JURIST - Paper Chase: Second Gomery report recommends limiting Canada PM's power after scandal

[JURIST] Quebec Justice John Gomery Wednesday released the second report [text and materials] of his judicial commission of inquiry [official website] into the Canadian sponsorships and advertising program [CBC backgrounder] scandal that developed during the term of former Liberal Party Prime Minister Jean Chretien [CBC profile] in the mid-1990s and later rocked the Canadian political establishment. The 240-page report entitled "Restoring Accountability" includes 18 recommendations for reining in prime-ministerial power and recovering over $50 million from the advertising kickbacks scheme which operated in the province of Quebec from 1994-2003. Conservative Party PM-designate Stephen Harper [official profile], who will take office on Monday in a new minority government, says he supports Gomery’s report and has vowed to pursue legal action to recover the missing funds, a stance that helped the Conservative leader win the January 23 Canadian federal election [JURIST report]. In his first report [text and materials], Gomery and his commission, established by Chretien successor Paul Martin [official website] almost two years ago, blamed Chretien [JURIST report] for some of the scandal since he chose to run the program from his office and had the ability to prevent mismanagement. The Toronto Globe and Mail has more.

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